German studies 1: language and culture of the German-speaking world

This module takes you to an intermediate level of linguistic competence in German, which is equivalent to B1 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference. You will develop your confidence in listening, reading, writing, speaking and interacting in German, as well as your knowledge and understanding of German-speaking societies and cultures. In addition, the module is designed to expand your academic, digital and employability skills in German contexts. You will have the option to study most activities in a book or as interactive online activities on the module website. The website uses authentic online resources in support of independent and collaborative learning.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate-level module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

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What you will study

This module is based around six themes: Geography; Leisure, Culture and the media; Work and education; Traditions and celebrations; History; and Society. Through each theme, you will gradually develop your German knowledge and skills by:

familiarising yourself with core vocabulary and grammar

learning about and reflecting on language, culture and intercultural communication skills

studying with audio recordings and videos featuring speakers of German and their lives and environments

engaging in a wide variety of speaking and interactive activities

practising direct translation to support your language learning

working independently and in collaboration with others

reviewing and monitoring your progress using checklists, and reflective questions.

The study materials are carefully structured and graded, and provide ample opportunities to practise the language in realistic contexts.

Vocational relevance

Alongside language-specific skills and knowledge (e.g. grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, listening, speaking, interacting, cultural knowledge), you will develop intercultural communication skills, translation skills, as well as academic, digital and employability skills. You will also learn about working practices in German-speaking countries and about using appropriate conventions for writing CVs and letters of application.

You will develop good communication skills and learn how to analyse, evaluate and present ideas and arguments effectively; and will become adept at relating to other people and being open to different points of view, all of which are highly valued skills in many professional settings.

Professional recognition

This module will develop your proficiency in German to a level equivalent to B1 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages. The Chartered Institute of Marketing recognises this module under their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written and spoken tutor-marked assignments (TMAs). You can also ask your tutor for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. This module usually includes a mix of face-to-face and online group tutorials and the timetables may also include day schools. Please note that depending on where you live, the mix will vary and in some places face-to-face tuition may be replaced by more online sessions or telephone conferencing. . Although you are not obliged to attend any of these, you are strongly encouraged to take part as they will provide you with plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to German. How and where tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the module.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

The iCMAs test your reading and listening skills. The TMAs test your writing and speaking skills. The final TMA is an interactive speaking assignment which will be carried out online. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the module.

Future availability

German studies 1: language and culture of the German-speaking world starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2018. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Essential Documents website.

Course work includes:

4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

4 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)

No examination

No residential school

Entry

You require a working knowledge of German to study this module, equivalent to A2 level of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for languages. It is ideal if you have successfully completed Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193) or who have reached a similar linguistic standard. You do not need a formal qualification in the language, but may have acquired your knowledge in adult education classes, time spent in German-speaking countries, regular contact with German-speaking people or other sources. You should be able to understand basic written and spoken materials and to hold a basic conversation in German in everyday situations such as talking about yourself; your family and where you are from; booking a hotel; or asking for directions.

To help decide if this is the module for you, see our Languages diagnostic. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Preparatory work

Before the module begins, we suggest that you continue to use your German in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities, watching and listening to the audio materials in Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193); reading a German newspaper; using online resources; or watching some films in German. Anything you can do to keep practising your German will be helpful.

Register

Start

End

Fee

Register

06 Oct 2018

Jun 2019

Not yet available

Registration opens on 21/03/18

This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2026.

Additional Costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as a laptop, travel to tutorials, set books and internet access.

If you're on a low income you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.

Ways to pay for this module

Open University Student Budget Account

The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.

You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:

Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your module fee direct to the OU. You then repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts. 0% APR representative. This option could give you the extra time you may need to secure the funding to repay OUSBA.

Pay by instalments – OUSBA calculates your monthly fee and number of instalments based on the cost of the module you are studying. APR 5.1% representative.

Employer sponsorship

Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.

More than one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer, and over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.

Your employer just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.

You won’t need to get your employer to complete the form until after you’ve chosen your module.

Credit/debit card

You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.

Mixed payments

We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).

For more information about combining payment options, speak to an adviser or book a call back at a time convenient to you.

Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and therefore the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fees and funding information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2018. Fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees.

This information was provided on 14/12/2017.

What's included

Three books and a dedicated website with additional online activities. As a registered language student you will have access to online forums on the module website where you can communicate with fellow students and tutors.

You will need

You will need access to a computer, a headset with a microphone to record yourself in audio activities and speaking assignments, as well as for use with the real time audio-visual conferencing tool and to take part in the online tutorials and final assessment. Alternatively you can study via a tablet or a mobile device with recording tools.

We also recommend that you purchase a good bilingual dictionary. We will provide you with details of the latest editions of those that we consider will be most suitable, prior to you starting this module.

Computing requirements

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either:

Windows 7 or higher

macOS 10.7 or higher

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To participate in our online-discussion area you will need both a microphone and speakers/headphones.

Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed materials are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). When you are requested to explore online materials and websites, some of these might not be fully accessible, however, alternative versions of activities will be provided wherever possible.

If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Find out more about our services for disabled students.